In vitro effect of 4-amino-5-imidazole-carboxamide-phosphate (AICA-P) on the enzyme activity and expression of superoxide dismutase

Antioxidant effects of a newly developed hepatoprotective agent 4-amino-5-imidazole-carboxamide-phosphate (Aica-P) were studied in an in vitro test system using isolated peripheral blood cells from patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and from healthy controls. In vitro incubation with the drug in a concentration corresponding to the usual therapeutic dosage enhanced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of erythrocytes and lymphocytes and also increased the superoxide dismutase expression on lymphocytes. These results indirectly suggest that antioxidant capacity may be one of the important factors in the mechanisms of hepatoprotective action of the imidazole derivate Aica-P.